Seattle Animal Shelter news and events

Archives for April 2014

Cool, fresh air and a cold drink. It’s what we all seek out when temperatures start creeping up. But it’s especially important for our furry and feathered companions, who handle heat differently than us humans. With temperatures forecasted to reach the 80s today and tomorrow, the Seattle Animal Shelter reminds pet owners to exercise good judgment and use common sense when it comes to protecting their pets from the heat.

As many homes in the Northwest aren’t equipped with air conditioning due to our normally moderate climate, people leave their windows wide open during warm weather. The fresh air is essential to you and your pets, but be aware of the enticement and danger an open, screenless window can pose for cats.

“Make sure your window screens are secure, especially on second floors and above,” said Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Open, screenless windows are an invitation to tempt the old adage ‘curiosity killed the cat.’ They may be known for always landing on their feet, but those little paws are no match for the combination of hard ground and gravity when the fall begins six, or even two, stories up.”

Another potential killer is a hot car. Even on a 75-degree day, cars left in the sun can turn into lethal ovens, reaching fatal temperatures of 130 degrees or more within just a few minutes. And with the movement of the sun, cars originally left in the shade can soon be in direct sunlight.

“Each year, we receive hundreds of calls about pets locked in cars on hot days,” said Jordan. “Even dogs left locked in cars in the shade with the windows cracked on hot days are at risk of brain damage or death. Dogs must cool themselves through panting and their systems can’t handle high temperatures.”

Jordan offers the following tips for protecting pets during hot weather:

Never leave your animal chained or penned up directly in sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide cool water.

If you leave animals indoors, open the windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and if possible, leave them in a cool location.

Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked car. Animals do not perspire like humans; they cool themselves by panting and vinyl seats in vehicles get hot under animals’ feet and prevent them from perspiring through their paws.

If you must travel with your pet, carry water. If a trip requires you leave your pet in the car at any point, think about saving that for another day. It’s not worth the risk.

Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.

For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

Pet owners can be held criminally liable for committing cruelty to animals if a pet dies, or is found suffering from heat prostration. If you see an animal that may be in need of assistance, or if you have questions, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at (206) 386-7387 (PETS).

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent for cats and kittens from the Seattle Animal Shelter, plan to attend a free orientation session, offered the first Sunday of each month – this month on May 4 – from 2-3:30 p.m. The session will be held in the upper level conference room of the shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W.

Please sign up for the orientation by emailing sasfostercatsorientation@gmail.comno later than 5 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Once you have signed up, you will receive an orientation packet to bring with you. Orientation will be cancelled if there are no sign-ups.

The Seattle Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to provide temporary foster care in their homes to rehabilitate and nurture sick, injured and immature cats and kittens or to just give adoptable cats a break from the shelter environment.

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole family and provides an opportunity for children to learn about the joys and responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term commitment,” said Shelter Director Don Jordan. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the pets who are nurtured by their foster families, and the families who adopt them.”

Jordan said the foster care program is quite simple. You provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter will provide any necessary veterinary care. The shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” subsidizes the costs associated with the foster care program including all pre-approved vet care.

If you attend an orientation session you are under no obligation to foster an animal. The orientations are just the first step in the process. Each prospective foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a “case manager” who provides advice and answers questions.

On April 19 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Ugly Baby and La Ru (located in the historic Pike Place Market at 1430 Western Ave.) will be hosting the 2nd Annual Bunny Party! Every year after Easter animal shelters are inundated with unwanted bunnies — Bunny Party! educates people about rabbits while raising funds for the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Event Includes:
– Market-wide Easter Egg Hunt starting at 10 a.m.
– Meet real bunnies from noon-4 p.m., with a $1 suggested donation
– Giveaway bags at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
– Sidewalk chalking along Western Avenue all day
– Bunny related craft projectsDonations will be collected at Ugly Baby and La Ru. All donations, as well as 10 percent of Ugly Baby and La Ru’s sales will go directly to the Seattle Animal Shelter to help the bunnies.

Bunny Party! is a fundraiser for the Seattle Animal Shelter to support the Shelter’s work with rabbits who are abandoned or surrendered after Easter. Last year’s Bunny Party! collected over $450 in donations for the Help the Animals Fund and recruited a new foster parent for the critter foster program. Shelter volunteers will be bringing adoptable rabbits to meet the public noon-4 p.m. at Bunny Party! but we will not be processing any adoptions at the event.

Have your kids been begging for a pet of their own? If you’re ready to give in, but are still afraid you don’t have the space for a dog or maybe someone in your household is allergic to cats, the Seattle Animal Shelter has the perfect solution: start small.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, April 19, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call 206-386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.